Sonar Bangla, an exploitation free utopia of Justice, has remained Bangladesh’s chief developmental aspiration ever since its inception in 1971. This target eluded Bangladesh for decades. Over the second decade of the Twenty-First century Bangladesh, however, emerged as a rapidly growing economy. It took some big strides to become a high value, knowledge-intensive society. It has a large young Computers savvy population- there were 110 million active internet subscribers in Bangladesh in 2019. Its economic growth rate averaged 6 % between 2009 and 2019. Its economy grew by 188% during this time. Bangladesh’s agriculture has moved from subsistence to self-sufficiency over the first two decades of the Twenty-First century. Today it is the fourth-largest rice producer, second-largest jute producer, fourth largest-mango producer, fifth-largest in vegetable production and fourth-largest in inland fisheries in the world. The country still faces many developmental challenges. Climate change, poor governance, corruption and shaky infrastructure are some of the major developmental challenges faced by Bangladesh. Underdevelopment is the key challenge confronting the South Asian region. All progressives of the region have to address the problem of underdevelopment. Peace, pluralism and tolerance are the essential prerequisites for development. This page discusses the major developmental challenges faced by Bangladesh. It explores the various solutions to these challenges. We value and cherish your opinions on these subjects. Feel free to join our debates by posting your articles, research papers, podcasts and video clips on the relevant subjects on this website.
Bangladesh: An Introductory Profile
Introduction
Muslim conversions and settlement in the region now referred to as Bangladesh began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans established trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. Partition in 1947 resulted in an eastern wing of Pakistan in the Muslim-majority area, which became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western wings of Pakistan led to a Bengali independence movement. That movement, led by the Awami League (AL) and supported by India, won the independence war for Bangladesh in 1971, during which at least 300,000 civilians died. The post-independence AL government faced daunting challenges and in 1975 was overthrown by the military, triggering a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978. That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections occurred in 1991. The BNP and AL alternated in power between 1991 and 2013, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime that suspended parliamentary elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption. That government returned the country to fully democratic rule in December 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. In January 2014, the incumbent AL won the national election by an overwhelming majority after the BNP boycotted, extending HASINA’s term as prime minister. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh has reduced the poverty rate from over half of the population to less than a third, achieved Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health, and made great progress in food security since independence. The economy has grown at an annual average of about 6% over the last two decades and the country reached World Bank lower-middle income status in 2015.
Geography and Location
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India.
Area: total: 148,460 sq km
land: 130,170 sq km
water: 18,290 sq km
country comparison to the world: 95
Land boundaries: total: 4,413 km
border countries (2): Burma 271 km, India 4,142 km
Coastline: 580 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm exclusive
economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to the outer limits of the continental margin
Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation: mean elevation: 85 m
elevation extremes: lowest: point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Land use: agricultural land: 70.1%
arable land: 59%
permanent crops: 6.5%
permanent pasture: 4.6%
forest: 11.1%
other: 18.8% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land: 53,000 sq km (2012)
Total renewable water resources: 1,227 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): total: 35.87 cu km/yr (10%/2%/88%)
per capita: 238.3 cu m/yr (2008)
Natural hazards: droughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
Environment—current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation
Environment—international agreements: party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: The Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal
People
Ethnic groups: Bengali at least 98%, ethnic groups 1.1%
note: Bangladesh’s government recognizes 27 ethnic groups under the 2010 Cultural Institution for Small Anthropological Groups Act; other sources estimate there are about 75 ethnic groups; critics of the 2011 census claim that it underestimates the size of Bangladesh’s ethnic population (2011 est.)
Languages: Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)
Religions: Muslim 89.1%, Hindu 10%, other 0.9% (includes Buddhist, Christian) (2013 est.)
Population: 168,957,745 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
country comparison to the world: 9
Age structure: 0–14 years: 31.62% (male 27,115,731/female 26,311,130)
15–24 years: 18.86% (male 14,976,910/female 16,880,807)
25–54 years: 38.27% (male 30,608,224/female 34,053,744)
55–64 years: 6.12% (male 5,196,932/female 5,150,199)
65 years and over: 5.13% (male 4,258,664/female 4,405,404) (2015 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 52.5%
youth dependency ratio: 44.9%
elderly dependency ratio: 7.6%
potential support ratio: 13.2% (2015 est.)
Median age: total: 24.7 years
male: 24.2 years
female: 25.1 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Population growth rate: 1.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Birth rate: 21.14 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Death rate: 5.61 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Net migration rate: 0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Urbanization: urban population: 34.3% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 3.55% annual rate of change (2010–15 est.)
Major urban areas—population: DHAKA (capital) 17.598 million; Chittagong 4.539 million; Khulna 1.022 million; Rajshahi 844,000 (2015)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth: 18.1
note: median age at first birth among women 25–29 (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate: 176 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Infant mortality rate: total: 44.09 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 46.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.94 years
male: 69.02 years
female: 72.94 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Health expenditures: 3.7% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 169
Physicians density: 0.36 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
Hospital bed density: 0.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 86.5% of population
rural: 87% of population
total: 86.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 13.5% of population
rural: 13% of population
total: 13.1% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 57.7% of population
rural: 62.1% of population
total: 60.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 42.3% of population
rural: 37.9% of population
total: 39.4% of population (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk withextremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:32.6% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 5
Education expenditures: 2% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 161
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.5%
male: 64.6%
female: 58.5% (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2011)
Child labor—children ages 5–14: total number:4,485,497
percentage: 13% (2006 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15–24: total: 8.7%
male: 8.3%
female: 9.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Government and Politics
Administrative divisions: 8 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
Independence: 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day, 16 December (1971); note—26 March 1971 is the date of the Awami League’s declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December, known as Victory Day, memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Constitution: previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (preindependence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986; amended many times, last in 2014 (2016)
Legal system: mixed legal system of mostly English common law and Islamic law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch: chief of state: President Abdul HAMID (since 24 April 2013); note—Abdul HAMID served as acting president following the death of Zillur RAHMAN in March 2013; HAMID was subsequently indirectly elected by the National Parliament and sworn in 24 April 2013 head of government:
Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA (since 6 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 April 2013 (next to be held by 2018); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament
election results: President Abdul HAMID (AL) elected by the National Parliament unopposed; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister as leader of the majority AL party
Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of the Nation or Jatiya Sangsad (350 seats; 300 members in single-seat territorial constituencies directly elected by simple majority popular vote; 50 members—reserved for women only—indirectly elected by the elected members by proportional representation vote using the single transferable vote method; all members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 5 January 2014 (next to be held by January 2019); note—the 5 January 2014 poll was marred by widespread violence, boycotts, general strikes, and low voter turnout
election results: percent of vote by party—AL-led Alliance 79%, JP (Ershad) 11.3%, WP 2.1%, JSD 1.8%, other parties 1.0%, independent 4.8%; seats by party—AL 234, JP 34, WP 6, JSD 5, other 5, independent 15; 1 seat repolled
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Bangladesh (organized into the Appellate Division with 7 justices and the High Court Division with 99 justices)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice and justices appointed by the president; justices serve until retirement at age 67
subordinate courts: civil courts include: Assistant Judge’s Court; Joint District Judge’s Court; Additional District Judge’s Court; District Judge’s Court; criminal courts include: Court of Sessions; Court of Metropolitan Sessions; special courts/tribunals; Metropolitan Magistrate Courts; Magistrate Court
Political parties and leaders: Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]
Bangladesh Nationalist Front or BNF [Abdul Kalam AZADI]
Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA]
Bangladesh Tariqat Federation or BTF [Syed Nozibul Bashar MAIZBHANDARI]
Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]
Jatiya Party or JP (Manju faction) [Anwar Hossain MANJU]
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Oli AHMED]
National Socialist Party or JSD [KHALEQUZZAMAN]
Workers Party or WP [Rashed Khan MENON]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Aino Salish Kendro (Centre for Law and Mediation) or ASK (legal aid and civil rights)
Bangladesh Cen ter for Worker Solidarity
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee or BRAC
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry M inistry of Women’s and Children’s Affairs or MoWCA (advocacy group to end gender-based violence) Odikhar (human rights group)
other: associations of madrassa teachers; business associations, including those intended to promote international trade; development and advocacy NGOs associated with the Grameen Bank; environmentalists; Islamist groups; labor rights advocacy groups; NGOs focused on poverty alleviation, and international trade; religious leaders; tribal groups and advocacy organizations; union leaders
International organization participation: ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Flag description: green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh
National symbol(s): Bengal tiger, water lily; national colors: green, red
National anthem: name: “Amar Shonar Bangla” (My Golden Bengal)
lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE
note: adopted 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote India’s national anthem.
Economy
Economy—overview: Bangladesh’s economy has grown roughly 6% per year since 1996 despite political instability, poor infrastructure, corruption, insufficient power supplies, slow implementation of economic reforms, and the 2008–09 global financial crisis and recession. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the services sector, almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. Garment exports, the backbone of Bangladesh’s industrial sector, accounted for more than 80% of total exports and surpassed $25 billion in 2015. The sector continues to grow, despite a series of factory accidents that have killed more than 1,000 workers, and crippling strikes, including a nationwide transportation blockade implemented by the political opposition during the first several months of 2015. Steady garment export growth combined with remittances from overseas Bangladeshis—which totaled about $15 billion and 8% of GDP in 2015—are the largest contributors to Bangladesh’s sustained economic growth and rising foreign exchange reserves.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $577 billion (2015 est.)
$536.5 billion (2014 est.)
$496.6 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 35
GDP (official exchange rate): $202.3 billion (2015 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 6.4% (2015 est.)
6.3% (2014 est.)
6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
GDP—per capita (PPP): $3,600 (2015 est.)
$3,400 (2014 est.)
$3,300 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 179
GDP—composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 16%
industry: 30.4%
services: 53.6% (2015 est.)
Agriculture—products: rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry
Industries: jute, cotton, garments, paper, leather, fertilizer, iron and steel, cement, petroleum products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, salt, sugar, edible oils, soap and detergent, fabricated metal products, electricity, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 9.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Labor force: 81.95 million
note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers’ remittances were $10.9 billion in FY09/10 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture: 47%
industry: 13%
services: 40% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (2015 est.)
5% (2014 est.)
note: about 40% of the population is underemployed; many persons counted as employed work only a few hours a week and at low wages
country comparison to the world: 50
Population below poverty line: 31.5% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest: 10%: 4%
highest: 10%: 27% (2010 est.)
Distribution of family income—Gini index: 32.1 (2010) 33.6 (1996)
country comparison to the world: 111
Budget: revenues: $21.28 billion
expenditures: $27.45 billion (2015 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (–): -3% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Public debt: 31.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
28.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.4% (2015 est.) 7% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Market value of publicly traded shares: $50.98 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$41.73 billion (31 December 2014)
$23.55 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Current account balance: -$2.176 billion (2015 est.)
-$120 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Exports: $29.93 billion (2015 est.)
Exports: $29.93 billion (2015 est.)
$29.93 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Exports—commodities: garments, knitwear, agricultural products, frozen food (fish and seafood), jute and jute goods, leather
Exports—partners: US 13.9%, Germany 12.9%, UK 8.9%, France 5%, Spain 4.7% (2015)
Imports: $38.22 billion (2015 est.)
$40.1 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Imports—commodities: cotton, machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, foodstuffs
Imports—partners: China 22.4%, India 14.1%, Singapore 5.2% (2015)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $26.41 billion (30 November 2015 est.)
$22.31 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Debt—external: $24.47 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$27.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Exchange rates: taka (BDT) per US dollar—77.42 (2015 est.)
77.57 (2014 est.)
77.614 (2013 est.)
81.86 (2012 est.)
74.152 (2011 est.)
Energy
Electricity—production: 47.31 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity—consumption: 41.52 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity—installed generating capacity: 6.36 million kW (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Electricity—from fossil fuels: 97.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity—from hydroelectric plants: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Crude oil—production: 4,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Crude oil—exports: 313 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Crude oil—imports: 25,320 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Crude oil—proved reserves: 28 million bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Refined petroleum products—production: 26,110 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Refined petroleum products—consumption:109,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Refined petroleum products—exports: 2,560 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Refined petroleum products 75,830 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas—production: 22.86 billion cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas—consumption: 22.86 billion cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas—proved reserves: 264.6 billioncum (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 63.5 million Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
COMMUNICATIONS & TRANSPORT
Telephones—fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.09 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 ( 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Telephones—mobile cellular: total: 120.4 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 72 ( 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Telephone system: general assessment: inadequate for a modern country; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities
domestic: fixed-line teledensity remains only about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 67 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code—880; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations—6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2011)
Broadcast media: state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) operates 1 terrestrial TV station, 3 radio networks, and about 10 local stations; 8 private satellite TV stations and 3 private radio stations also broadcasting; foreign satellite TV stations are gaining
audience share in the large cities; several international radio broadcasters are available (2007)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 19, shortwave 2 (2009)
Television broadcast stations: 17 (2009)
Internet country code: .bd
Internet hosts: 71,164 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 87
Internet users:
total: 11.4 million percent of population: 6.9% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Pipelines: gas 2,950 km (2013)
Railways: total: 2,460 km
broad gauge: 659 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,801 km 1.000-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world: 65
Roadways: total: 21,269 km
paved: 2,021 km
unpaved: 19,248 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 106
Waterways: 8,370 km (includes up to 3,060 km of main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200 km in the dry season) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 16
Merchant marine: total: 62
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 28, chemical tanker 1, container 5, petroleum tanker 3
foreign-owned: 8 (China 1, Singapore 7)
registered in other countries: 10 (Comoros 1, Hong Kong 1, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 64
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Chittagong
river port(s): Mongla Port (Sela River)
container port(s): Chittagong (1,392,104) (2011)
Transportation—note: The International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Bangladesh remain a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2014, attacks against commercial vessels increased to 21 over 12 such incidents in 2013.
Defense and Security
Military branches: Bangladesh Defense Force: Bangladesh Army (Sena Bahini), Bangladesh Navy (Noh Bahini, BN), Bangladesh Air Force (Biman Bahini, BAF) (2013)
Military service age and obligation: 16–19 years of age for voluntary military service; Bangladeshi birth and 10th grade education required; initial obligation 15 years (2012)
Military expenditures: 1.09% of GDP (2014)
1.15% of GDP (2013)
1.35% of GDP (2012)
1.44% of GDP (2011)
1.35% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 86
TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES
Disputes—international: Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Indian Prime Minister Singh’s September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over un-demarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 32,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Arakan State, livingas refugees in Cox’s Bazar; Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 232,462 (Burma) (2014) IDPs: 426,000 (violence, human rights violations, religious persecution, natural disasters) (2015)
Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
Source: The CIA World Fact Book 2017
